Baron spent the campaign as deputy campaign manager and communications director for Romanoff, a former Colorado House speaker who out-raised Coffman but lost by 9 percentage points. That result came in a district seen as competitive because of a near-equal distribution of registered Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

Political consultant George Merritt, who helped on last year’s successful state personnel reform campaign, is leaving Colorado.

George Merritt, who covered John Hickenlooper’s mayoral run as a rookie reporter for the Denver Post and later served as his campaign spokesman when Hickenlooper ran for governor, is leaving Colorado.

The political consultant and his wife, Liz, and their twin daughters, are moving to Kansas City next month where he will work at a PR firm.

“As much as I will miss so many people who have shaped my adult life, I’m excited to announce that my girls and I are heading east where family and a great career opportunity await,” he said in his announcement.

“I’ve spent 15 years in Colorado as a goofy college kid, a newspaper reporter and a consultant. Along the way there have been an enormous number of people who have taught me, carried me, pushed me and cared for me. I can’t say thanks enough to everyone. Colorado is a part of who I am, and I will never be too far away.”

Merritt also has worked for the Associated Press, and most recently at the political consulting firm of Onsight Public Affairs with Mike Melanson and Ben Davis, who handled Democrat Mark Udall’s 2008 U.S. Senate campaign and Hickenlooper’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Last year, Merritt worked on the “Yes on S” campaign.

At the Capitol, Merritt’s a go-to guy on several issues, ranging from beers to elections to enjoying a good laugh with someone.

Two years ago, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet were engaged in a fierce battle for the Senate. Tuesday night they hosted a pre-presidential debate party at the Denver Press Club. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Lobbyist Maria Garcia Berry and Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks at the pre-presidential party at the Denver Press Club. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Two of the best operatives in the business, Democrat Mike Melanson and Republican Walt Klein, at a pre-presidential debate party at the Denver Press Club. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Former U.S. Senate rivals Michael Bennet and Ken Buck got plenty of accolades — and some laughs — for co-hosting a media party at the Denver Press Club on the eve of the presidential debate.

Buck, the Weld County district attorney and a Republican, introduced Katy Atkinson, Walt Klein and Dick Wadhams (who hadn’t arrived yet as he was at another political event.) Buck jokingly tried to get a donation for his wife’s state House race.

Bennet pointed out that his campaign headquarters was next to Shotgun Willie’s, a topless bar he slyly called a “venerable institution.” He noted that the Denver Press Club is located next to the Diamond Cabaret.

John Hickenlooper is a funny guy and so is the campaign strategist who has been helping the governor-elect, including with this inaugural invite gem:

Like me, I’m sure you’re trying to work off those pesky holiday pounds and the last thing either of us should do is eat mouth-watering barbecue, craft beer, and chocolate covered doughnut holes rolled in Enstrom’s toffee crumbles. We should probably just go to the freezer and thaw a delicious Lean Cuisine…

Lean Cuisine!

Ryan Johnson worked on Hickenlooper’s campaign, helping with e-mails, video and website. His campaign co-workers call him a creative genius.

Now that the election is over and the inaugural winds up Tuesday, Johnson is joining Onsight Public Affairs, teaming up with the same campaign staffers who helped get Hickenlooper elected: Mike Melanson, Hollie Velasquez-Horvath and Ben Davis.

Hickenlooper raised $380,841 in May, according to the campaign. That money was used to help buy $850,000 worth of ad time on television this fall. The media buy, coupled with a $123,000 mailer and other expenses, accounted for most of the $1.138 milllion in expenditures during the month. The campaign has just over $130,000 cash on hand.

Today is another fund-raising deadline for state candidates and the winner of Best Begging for Bucks goes to …. Mike Melanson, campaign manager for John Hickenlooper.

Melanson’s about as low key as they come. If he were any more low key he wouldn’t have a pulse.

Hickenlooper, the Democratic nominee for governor, is known for his quirkiness. In his fund-raising letter, Melanson introduces himself by saying, “Unlike John, I have no sense of humor.”

“We’re in the final hours of a fund-raising deadline, and I need your help. No zebra suits. No threats from fictitious coyotes. No cute turns of phrase. We have to buy TV ads, and your response to this email will dictate how much we can spend. Every dime you contribute today, we’ll spend on TV – no joke.

Dario Esquibel-Melanson, a political force at the age of 7. (Lynn Bartels/The Denver Post)

Dario Esquibel-Melanson has to rank right up there with the Obama sisters when it comes to being a top political kid.

Let’s just start by saying that at the Jefferson Jackson Day dinner this month, the 7-year-old was smart enough to wear both Michael Bennet and Andrew Romanoff’s campaign stickers.

And he’s already been a page at the Wyoming legislature this year.

He is the son of Jacquie Esquibel and Mike Melanson, who was campaign manager for Democrat Mark Udall’s successful Senate bid in 2008 and now is running the campaign for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who is running for governor.

Hickenlooper’s campaign shouldn’t feel too bad. Reporters are famous for making the same error, including in this Denver Post profile last year on Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry:

In his first session as a state representative, Penry successfully carried a major bill that reorganized how Colorado settles water disputes. And then he announced a run for state Senate, running not only against a more senior Mesa County politician but also against the advice of former U.S. Rep. Scott McGinnis, Penry’s political mentor and one-time boss.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.